Olympians and Paralympians Tour White House and Meet President Obama

  0 Emma LeGault | October 02nd, 2016 | International Volleyball, News, Pro, Pro Beach, U.S. Women's Volleyball

Volleyball Olympians and Paralympians got to meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday.

Members of all four US beach teams that competed in Rio in August were in attendance, medals in hand. Phil Dalhausser, Jake Gibb, Casey Patterson, Lauren Fendrick, Brooke Sweat, and April Ross made it to Washington, DC, for the event.

Members of the women’s sitting team, which won gold at the Rio Paralympics, were also there.

Kelsey Robinson, a member of the Olympic women’s team, covered the event on Snapchat for USA Volleyball.

Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings won bronze in Rio. Dalhausser/Nick Lucena tied for fifth in the men’s tournament. Gibb/Patterson tied for 19th, as well as Fendrick/Sweat. Both the men’s and women’s indoor teams won bronze.

The US topped the overall Olympic medal count with 46 golds.

The athletes toured the White House, met other Olympians and Paralympians, took selfies, and shook hands with President Obama, Michelle Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden.

“Remember that when somebody is watching you for the first time and they see how hard you work and what you accomplish, and they feel inspired, they feel like they can take any challenge on — what you do has ripples all across the country,” Obama said during his remarks.

Here’s a roundup of what it was like to tour the White House and meet the president, as told by the Olympians’ and Paralympians’ social media posts:

Yesterday we had the amazing honor of being invited to the White House where we had the privilege of meeting President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, & VP Joe Biden! It is a day we will never forget! 🇺🇸🏐🏅

Posted by USA Women’s National Sitting Volleyball Team on Friday, September 30, 2016

Just hanging at the White House, NBD. 🏛👨‍👨‍👧‍👧🏅

A post shared by April Ross (@aprilrossbeach) on

 

POTUS just got to meet all of us! 😜🇺🇸 #TeamUSAinDC #WhiteHouse #USAbeach

A post shared by Brooke Youngquist Sweat (@brookesweat) on

 

When you get dumped by your partner but you timed the White House visit perfectly. 😎 📸: @sportsacademyhq #dreamteam #tokyo2020 #risewithsa #eaglesnest #sportsacademyhq #beachvolleyball #avpstrong

A post shared by Casey Patterson (@caseypatt) on

 

NBD…just reading a book in the White House library! What an amazing opportunity to meet President Obama, The First Lady, and Biden!! #whitehouse #olympian #athlete #beachvolleyball #athletesaresmarttoo #teamusa #thankful

A post shared by Phil Dalhausser (@phildalhausser) on

 

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